Lancashire Police boss visits Burnley Custody to ensure prisoners are treated with respect

Joining the volunteer ICVs as they carried out their vital work, for which the commissioner is responsible, of making unannounced visits to local police stations to make sure that those being held are treated with dignity and respect, Mr Grunshaw said: "The work these volunteers do across the county is absolutely vital in ensuring that conditions are up to the high standards we expect here in Lancashire."

Speaking to those being held in custody as well as custody officers in order to check people's welfare and assessing conditions, ICVs provide an important safeguard for detainees and delivers an independent view of how people being held in police custody are being treated.

"The visit here Burnley's custody suite has been a great insight into the work that ICVs do, checking the well-being of detainees and condition of the cells," Mr Grunshaw explained. "We know that a large number of those who are taken to custody are vulnerable themselves, so it is really important that this is factored in to the overall process within custody.

"Being an ICV and any form of volunteering is a great way to make a real difference to people's lives and give back to our community whilst gaining new skills," he added. "That is why I helped to establish the Lancashire Volunteer Partnership which has gone from strength to strength.

"This is why I have built on this success with the launch of Our Lancashire, which connects people with community groups and organisations to help our communities thrive."